WEEK 9 (FYP 1)

SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE

This week i have met my co-supervisor to discuss about software and hardware to develop this project.

I have briefly explain how my final year project should work. He suggest me to use some component to less my burden. We have also discuss how my project will look like and know how it will run from the start to the end. From this meeting, its look like i don't have any simulation, because according to my co-supervisor, i will do it directly using hardware and supposed to get the result in the table form in the laptop. For the software, i will use arduino. He also have suggest me to use nodemcu, and share some knowledge about it. I will do more research about it and update my blog later on...☺

PROJECT HARDWARE

So here is some of the things that i will use in my FYP.

1. NodeMcu
   
   I have bought NodeMcu through online.
   NodeMcu is and open source IoT platform. It includes firmware which runs on the ESP8266 Wi-Fi SoC from Espressif Systems, and hardware which is based on the ESP-12 module. The term "NodeMCU" by default refers to the firmware rather that dev kits. The firmware uses the Lua scripting language. NodeMcu was created shortly after the ESP8266 came out. The ESP8266 is a Wi-Fi SoC integrated with a Tensilica Xtensa Lx106 core, widely used in IoT applications.
   
   The specification of NodeMcu is stated as below:
   
   Chip Module : CP2102
   Working Temperature : -40 ͒C ~ + 125 ͒C
   Power input : 4.5V ~ 9V (10VMAX), USB-powered
   Current : continuous transmission : approx. 70mA (200mA MAX), Standby : <200uA
   Size : approx. 45 × 25 × 6mm/1.77 × 0.98 × 0.23"
   Weight : approx. 6g
   
   Features :
   
   ESP8266 full IO mouth leads directly download without reset.
   A great set of tools for the development of ESP8266.
   
   
   
   
   

   

   
   
2. Pressure Transducer
   
   I have also bought pressure transducer through online.
   A pressure sensor is a device for pressure measurement of gases or liquids. A pressure sensor usually acts as a transducer, it generates a signal as a function of the pressure imposed. Pressure sensor can also be used to indirectly measure other variables such as fluid/gas flow, speed, water flow and altitude. Pressure sensors can alternatively be called pressure transducers, pressure senders, pressure transmitters, pressure indicators, piezometers and manometers, among the names.
   
   Specification of product :

• Maximum : ±0.05% FS/oC
• Shock Resistance : 100g
• Response Time : ≤1ms
• Insulation Resistance : >100mΩ 500VDC
• Explosion-proof Class : ExiaTTCT6

          Feature of product :

                ➔ Stainless steel body.
                ➔ A high quality pressure sender, with ceramic pressure chip sensor inside.
                ➔ Input : 0 - 200 psi.
                ➔ Output : 0.5V - 4.5V linear voltage output. 0 psi outputs 0.5V, 100 psi outputs 2.5V, 200
                     psi outputs 4.5V.
                ➔ Works for oil, fuel, water or air pressure. Can be used in oil tank, gas tank, etc.
                ➔ Accuracy : Within 2% of reading (full scale).

    3. Water Pump

         

         Water pump is a mechanical device that moves fluid or gas by pressure or suction.

         

         Specification of product :

• Volts : 12V DC, 220 VAC
• Amps : 6A
• Rated Power : 70W
• Pressure : 0.90 MPA (MAX 130 PSI)
• Flow capacity : 6L / Min (6.0 Liters per minute)
• Medium temperature : 0  ͒C - 100  ͒C
• Inlet and Outlet size : 10mm
• Weight : 598g (straight)

          Features :

• Diaphragm pump combines the advantages of self-priming pump and chemical pump. Installed in a dry, well-ventilated location; pumps can not work in water.
• Using a variety of imported corrosion-resistant materials, self-priming, thermal protection, smooth operation, long-time continuous idling, long-time continuous load operation.
• Totally sealed, high stable pressure.
• Rubber bracket can absorb vibration from the pump when working.
• When the water pressure is too high, pump will protect themselves and normal work, water pipes will not burst, it is safe and durable.
• Pressure protection : pressure switch power protection.
• The maximum flow of 6 L /min, flow rate can be adjusted form 0.1 to 6 liters / min depending on the needs.
  Maximum pressure 130psi (9.0kg) of pressure can be adjusted from 75psi -130psi according to different needs.
• The work : intermittent service (continuous working at different working pressure at different times).
• The use of media : water or solvent pH value 5-8, oil.
• Service life : more than 500-1000 hours of continuous work.
• Pressure Switch Type Features : When the water turned off, it will automatically cut off power, the motor is stopped. After the water turned on, will automatically power on, motor running.

    4. 

LITERATURE REVIEW

Journal 2

This week I want to share a useful tips when selecting a sensor.

There are 6 thing that can be consider:

1. Accuracy & Precision - Those two terms do not mean the same thing, though they are often related. Accuracy has to do with how close the sensor reading is to the true value while Precision refers to the ability of the sensor to detect small changes. (As an example, a temperature sensor that measures boiling water at 97.53  ͒C has a high precision but low accuracy.) Both the accuracy and precision of a given instrumentation system must be appropriate for the requirements of the system. Too high precision can give a false impression that the reading is also accurate or can result in the system detecting noise rather than the actual desired data. A sensor with more accuracy that necessary will be more expensive and more difficult to use properly than one more appropriate to the measurement required. Additionally, both accuracy and precision are affected by errors incurred throughout the system. Transducer error, wiring, signal conditioners, and the gauges or converters used to read the value each add their own errors into the system that must be understood in order to select the appropriate sensors.
2. Environment - Selection of the proper sensor requires a good understanding of the environment in which the instrument will be operated. Many sensors can be affected by the non-ideal conditions of a production floor (such as temperature variation, vibration, humidity, chemicals, etc.) It is important to take the environment into account when selecting the sensor and its packaging, mounting, and other options.
3. Excitation - Many transducers require power to produce an output signal and it is important to provide a power source that will not introduce additional errors.
4. Signal Conditioning - Unfortunately, the world is full of non-ideal realities in sensors. Electrical noise is always present, often more so on production floors, and can cause erroneous readings. Signal conditioners and other protection circuits can provide some protection from these effects before conversion. Sometimes these are useful, but other times it is possible or preferred to process the signals after conversion, so the use of conditioners must be evaluated during the instrumentation design process.
5. Conversion - In modern systems, it is often preferred that instrumentation system provide digital data (rather than analog gauges or chart recorders). The analog to digital converters must be evaluated and matched appropriately to the sensors or errors can be introduced, or money wasted by overpaying for precision in one that is not present in the other. Make sure to properly handle ratiometric and non-ratiometric sensors by properly matching with converters that are the same.
6. Processing - Even if signal conditioning is performed, the sensor and conversion process is full of various sources of error. Some of these errors are linear (consistent effect across the measurement range), while others are non-linear. There are various methods and algorithms that can be used to compensate for these errors or to extract the best possible signal form the system.

The date ultimately must be displayed or used by the system and may be stored for later analysis. Whatever is done with the data, remember that a test system can only perform as well as the data it is provided, so appropriate analysis must be done when selecting and implementing the instrumentation.

Credit to : Ria Sood, Manjit Kaur and Hemant Lenka (June 2013) "Design and Development of Automatic Water Flow Meter."

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